665873 - [meta] Linux theme refresh

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(Thunderbird :: Theme, defect)

Description

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

This bug will be a meta bug to track bugs about the Linux theme refresh as seen in http://www.andreasn.se/blog/?p=172

Comment 1

[rsx11m]

Given the not all positive feedback on the redesign of the aero theme for Vista and Windows 7, it may be prudent to evaluate those first before approaching similar changes with gnomestripe and possibly the XP/2000 part of qute (though some of the issues seen with the aero theme do not seem to apply for what's proposed on your blog). Bottom line: Let's not proceed too quickly here...

Comment 2

[Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn)]

I recognize that there has been some pushback for the icon changes in bug 668336, but at the same time I find it questionable if the interface is actually harder to use because of this (colors are indeed quick to identify, but so are shapes, and these icons don't move around that much).
In general both Ubuntu and other Linux distros are clearly moving towards a more monochrome look [1], [2] [3]. I would like to fit in with the platform we're on.

1. http://cdn.omgubuntu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Screenshot-12.png
2. http://www.gnome.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/media.png
3. https://gitorious.org/gnome-design/gnome-design/blobs/master/mockups/documents/documents-devices.png

Comment 3

[rsx11m]

Well, all examples you are linking there refer to Gnome. I'm using KDE4 myself, and while the default desktop theme looks "refreshed" in your sense that it got rid of window decoration and introduced some aero-like effects, there are still quite a few colored spots as far as application icons and dialogs are concerned (even for such cases where you wouldn't consider colorization necessary). On top of that, and that's probably the same with Gnome, the Appearance dialogs offer plenty of other desktop choices, back to KDE2 if one desires. And/or, you can switch specific effects on and off (e.g., the "glow" around windows), or modify colors and styles, which are even inherited by Thunderbird to some extent. Bottom line: There is no "default" theme in the sense that this is all it's coming with = no need to search and download themes as there are plenty of choices and customization options.

> colors are indeed quick to identify, but so are shapes

Actually, the combination of both is what matters as a cue for eyes and brain to determine which button is which (and yes, the order of buttons matters as well, but the more buttons you throw on the toolbar the more other factors become relevant). Additionally, one user may better recognize shapes, others better colors (and I'm not talking about the group of users needing a high-contrast theme but users of all ages in general). The aero redesign got rid of the regular-size icons, just retaining the "small" icons (18x18 rather than 16x16, though), in addition to removing the color, thus two factors improving recognizability lost. And that's what the user is stuck with unless he or she decides to download and install a 3rd-party theme.

As for the recurring "everybody" argument, e.g., looking at Open Office or Libre Office, I don't see any tendency to get rid of their colored UI icons either.

Comment 4

[eugene]

Guys, the default linux theme is ugly. Its like we're in Netscape back in 1996. It's not just ugly, it's disgusting.
I just love the default windows theme, I don't want to mess with all of those shiny addons. Why the Linux (and FreeBSD) theme must be THAT ugly ?

What do you mean by 'Let's not proceed too quickly here...' ? I'm almost 36. The theme was ugly when I was 30. I suppose I just won't last THAT long to see the new theme, I'm kinda not that immortal. And it really feels like when you will do The New Theme, it will feel like ... 'ZOMG, why the new theme is SO UGLY ? Looks like the IE6 is back and we're back in 2004'.

You buried e10s. You bumped like 10 releases of FF and it still leaks more and more memory. I have 2Gigs of RAM just to launch Firefox. It's not a rocket science, everyone is able to compose a theme, I'm spending the time doing this like every release of FF. Nobody died after seeing new icons.

Why at least the Linux/FreeBSD theme cannot have proper look ?
I just don't understand.

Comment 5

[M Lopez-Ibanez]

(In reply to Andreas Nilsson (:andreasn) from comment #2)
> I recognize that there has been some pushback for the icon changes in bug
> 668336, but at the same time I find it questionable if the interface is
> actually harder to use because of this (colors are indeed quick to identify,
> but so are shapes, and these icons don't move around that much).
> In general both Ubuntu and other Linux distros are clearly moving towards a
> more monochrome look [1], [2] [3]. I would like to fit in with the platform
> we're on.

So make it an additional theme that is selected by default, but don't smash over the actual default theme.

Bonus points: Design a cross-desktop theme switching mechanism, so the default theme in thunderbird/firefox can be in sync with the theme used by the rest of the desktop environment. That is, if the user uses "Ambiance" theme in his desktop, then firefox selects by default its own "Ambiance" theme. If the user uses an "Oxygen" theme, then firefox uses its own "Oxygen" theme. If not present, fall back to default theme. Now, that would be a real improvement for Linux Desktop consistency and the corresponding cross-desktop standard would help immensely.

Comment 6

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

I think this bug has served its purpose - only two bugs left, with perhaps not bright prospects for completion

Comment 7

[Eugene M. Zheganin]

Since that I was the one who wrote a negative comment above, I must say thank you for all being involved in Unix theme refreshment. Thanks a lot, guys.